By Ryu Jin
Korea Times Correspondent
KUALA LUMPUR _ President Roh Moo-hyun Monday proposed an information technology (IT) project for co-prosperity in East Asia, with South Korea playing a leading role for the ``informationization’’ of Southeast Asian nations.

In a meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Korea, China and Japan, dubbed the ``ASEAN+3 Summit,’’ he said his country would provide a package of support programs to build an ``e-society’’ and IT infrastructure in the region.

``One of the world’s leading IT powers, South Korea proposed the new joint project for the co-prosperity of the whole region,’’ a presidential aide said, adding that Seoul would set aside a considerable amount of money for that mission from 2007 to 2012.

In a keynote address to a separate business and investment conference, Minister for Trade Kim Hyun-chong explained South Korea has actively proceeded to work together on various projects to enrich the partnership in the IT-related sectors with Southeast Asian nations.

``As part of efforts to resolve the growing digital divide, Korea and ASEAN have been jointly undertaking the East Asia Special Initiative since 2002,’’ he said. ``We have sent IT policy and technology advisory groups to assist in upgrading the IT capacity of the ASEAN countries.’’

Following his three-day state visit to Malaysia last week, Roh attended the ASEAN+3 Summit here in search of ways to strengthen cooperation in the region and materialize an East Asian community.

While discussing measures to address such transnational problems as terrorism and the security of the pirate-haunted Strait of Malacca with other leaders, Roh also solicited support for Seoul’s efforts to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, according to his aides.

In a joint declaration issued after the two-hour summit, the 13 leaders said they would make joint efforts to consolidate existing cooperation and to set forth the future direction for cooperation and building of the East Asia community.

``We will speed up the implementation of the short-term, and medium and long-term measures of the East Asia Study Group Final Report,’’ they said in the declaration. ``We will continue to support ASEAN integration, particularly in narrowing the development gap in order to realize the ASEAN Community and at the same time contribute to the building of an East Asian community as the long-term goal.’’

Earlier in the day, Roh, held a one-on-one meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the summit. In the evening, he had a dinner meeting with Malaysian businesspeople.

On Tuseday, he will hold a summit with leaders from the 10 ASEAN nations to discuss bilateral cooperation. The leaders will sign a framework agreement for a free trade agreement (FTA).

Trade ministers from South Korea and the ASEAN nations, except Thailand, have already reached a trade in goods agreement last week, paving the way for a full FTA between the two sides to be formally signed in the first half of next year.

On Wednesday, Roh will attend the first East Asia Summit, joined by Australia, New Zealand and India, before flying to Manila for a three-day state visit to the Philippines. He is scheduled to return home on Friday.



jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr